Obituary: Maurice ‘Mort’ Swanson

Friday

Oct 18, 2013 at 5:00 PM

Maurice H. “Mort” Swanson, 83, of Geneseo, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, at the emergency room of Unity Point Health-Trinity Rock Island. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Grace United Methodist Church, Geneseo. The Rev. Melva England Graham will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at Vandemore Funeral Home, Geneseo where a Masonic Service will be conducted at 7:45 p.m. by Stewart Masonic Lodge No. 92 AF & AM. Memorials may be left to the Maurice Swanson Memorial Fund to be distributed among several of his favorite organizations.

Maurice H. “Mort” Swanson, 83, of Geneseo, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, at the emergency room of Unity Point Health-Trinity Rock Island. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at Grace United Methodist Church, Geneseo. The Rev. Melva England Graham will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at Vandemore Funeral Home, Geneseo where a Masonic Service will be conducted at 7:45 p.m. by Stewart Masonic Lodge No. 92 AF & AM. Memorials may be left to the Maurice Swanson Memorial Fund to be distributed among several of his favorite organizations.

Mort was born Jan. 6, 1930, in rural Geneseo, the son of Harold and Lois (Hines) Swanson. He was a graduate of Geneseo High School. He married Janice M. Stach on Sept. 3, 1950, in Geneseo. She died in 2011. Mort was a lifetime grain and livestock farmer in rural Geneseo. He also owned and operated Swanson Brothers Farm Equipment with his brother, LeRoy.

Mort belonged to Grace United Methodist Church in Geneseo and the Stewart Masonic Lodge No. 92 AF & AM in Geneseo. He served on the Henry County Board for more than 40 years and was Phenix Township supervisor for 18 years. He was a member of the Antique Engine and Tractor Association in Geneseo and the Minneapolis-Moline Tractor Collectors Club. Mort enjoyed hunting, restoring tractors and was passionate about farming and family. He truly enjoyed family time at his lake.

Survivors include a daughter, Jean Pritchard of Geneseo; a son, David Swanson of Geneseo; five grandchildren, Joseph Swanson, Rebecca Swanson, Robert Swanson, Corporal Benjamin Pritchard USMC and Nathan Pritchard; a sister, Ava Resser of Geneseo; sister-in-law, Gladys Swanson and special friend, Donna Gotthardt. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Steven Swanson; a granddaughter, Megan Swanson; daughter-in-law, Sandra Swanson and his brother, LeRoy Swanson.